Students Respond to NYC Terrorist Attack

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On Tuesday, November 1, eight people were killed when a 29-year-old man drove down a bicycle path near the World Trade Center in Manhattan; almost a dozen were injured.

Five Argentinian high school classmates, two young American men, and a Belgian mother were identified as the victims, according to the CNN.

The Willistonian spoke to several students in New York City to gauge their level of fear in the wake of this terrible event.

Freshman NYU student Thomas Hager is from Rye, New York. “I would say that it’s important for us to call the act what it was,” Thomas said. “It was an Isis related religious extremist terrorism. I feel safe, but it’s important to recognize that people die and get killed every day. You’re not really statistically any less safe than during any other period in time. Generally speaking, crime is declining.”

Preliminary results through July show murders and shootings are down 17 percent since last year. Major crimes are down 8.1 percent from last July, and overall serious crimes are down six percent over 2016 according to CBS News New York.

NYU student Jared Patel ’21 said, “It was scary to hear that this happened in my city, but at the same time I am not worried about this happening again.” Jared continued, “I feel very safe in the city because I know that the police and the government will do everything to protect us.”

The perpetrator, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, is from Uzbekistan, Central Asia but has been living in the US since 2010. He rented a truck and drove it on a bike path killing innocent people until he was shot and arrested. Authorities found a note near the truck claiming the attack was made in the name of ISIS, according to CNN.

He had traffic citations issued in Missouri and Pennsylvania. He was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in October 2016 after a warrant was issued for failing to show in court for a misdemeanor offense. He paid a $200 bond.

President Donald Trump shared his feelings towards the terrorist attack, “NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people and badly injured 12.” He tweeted: “HE SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!”